William Smith - our founder

WILLIAM SMITH
William Smith-OUR FOUNDER
By Anna Botsford Comstock William Smith was born near the ancient and beautiful town of Canterbury,K ent County, England ,September 2nd, 1818, He was the eldest son of Thomas Smith, a trader in wood and other commodities, who died while his children were young. In 1837 two of the younger brothers, Edward then fifteen, and Thomas seventeen, came to America and settled in Geneva, After working here six years and becoming established, Edward returned toEngland and brought back with him William and the mother and sister Mary, who died young. William was twenty-five when he reached America in 1843, He had had no schooling after his eighth year; the early death of his father had made it necessary for him to work and earn in order to help care for the family, His brothers had bought twenty-five acres of land in the outskirts of Geneva, where the present office of the Smith's Nurseries stands. and they were devoting it to market gardening, William Smith did not join his brothers in their enterprise but went to work for Isaac Hildreth who had asmall nursery about a half mile west of the present Experiment Station, Here he became deeply interested in the nursery business and had the vision to foresee its future possibilities. In 1846, two years before the Maxwel lBrothers started their nurseries, Mr.Smith induced his two brothers to join him in the growing of trees and plants. They started in a limited way on the land which they had used for market gardening. They were industrious, economical, persevering and they developed excellent judgment in the selection of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs adapted for various localities. They were noted for honest dealing and the business had a healthy growth,
In 1863 Edward Smith withdrew from the firm. The nursery business continued to prosper and in 1892 was incorporated under the name of W. &. T. SmithCompany. From the first the Smiths were wholesale and no tretail dealers in nursery stock, They gradually increased their holdings until at present there are more th an one thousand acres devoted to the business. Thomas died in 1896 and his son Theodore continued the business with his uncle until the death o fthe latter when he became head of the firm.
William Smith was deeply interested in Geneva and its development. He took an active part in many of the business corporations o fthe city. He was one of the organizers of the Standard Optical Company in 1883 and for years was the largest stock-holder. For thirty one-years he was director of the First National Bank of Geneva. The following tribute has been paid him by those who knew him well: "He was a persistent worker, a keen business man and a man of the highest order of integrity. He was generous, kind to everybody and progressive."
It was during the years 1893-94 that Mr. Smith built the Opera House. Before that time Geneva had had no adequate hall for music or drama. He did not expect to make money out of this enterprise: he believed that good plays and good music were of great benefit to the people and he was glad to assist in giving these privileges to the citizens of his city. At the time it was built, it was probably the most beautiful theater in America in a city of the size of Geneva. It was copied later in Ithaca and other towns The donor was especially anxious th at courses of lectures should be given in the Opera House.
Through his work with plants M r. Smith became interested in plant breeding
which led him to an interest in all the natural sciences. especially biology. Also
the mystery of the heavens had always appealed to his imagination. He believed
that the greatness of the Creator could never be realized without knowledge of
the Universe.
"Night is but His parable
Secretly where He would tell,
As to an intimate of His
The mystery of all that is."
He read books on astronomy and securing a small telescope from a professor at Hobart, he set it up near his home, and by himself sought to learn the lore of the stars. It so fascinated him that he felt he must know more and visited Dr William R. Brooks, who was working in the Red House Observatory at Phelps. The visit was repeated several times, and in consequence he decided to build an observatory and place Dr. Brooks in charge. As was usual with Mr. Smith, whatever he undertook he did well. The dome and the large equatorial telescope of lO-inch aperture were built by the makers of the great telescopes of the Lick and the Yerkes observatories. A photographic lens to match the telescope put this on a par with the most advanced observatories. Dr. Brooks' devoted and self­sacrificing
labors during the years from 1888 until his death, made this observatory known the world over. What a pity that it stands idle now when astronomy, that most ancient of sciences, has come to the fore as the most progressive! It is to be hoped that some friend of William Smith and of Hobart College will endow a chair for this great work. Mr. Smith appreciated that Dr. Brooks had, by his discovery of many comets, brought great honor to his observatory; but he himself was more interested in the vast scheme of the Universe and he would have rejoiced in the recent discoveries which reveal the infinity of star systems
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and the plan of their evolution. As with all of his public enterprises, Mr. Smith hoped that his observatory would be a source of enlightenment and interest to the people of Geneva. The services of Dr. Brooks were always at the disposal of the public and he often gave free lectures and thus cooperated with Mr. Smith in his efforts to lead the people to a comprehension of the greatness of the Universe.
HIS PERSONALITY
William Smith was tall and spare as to physique; if there was a slight stooping of his shoulders it only served to make him seem more alert and eager; he was very active and moved quickly. His features were rather delicate, his nose straight and well shaped, his eyes large, and when he was interested, very expressive; his lips were rather thin and sensitive; his hair was gray as was his full beard which was kept elosely trimmed; his complexion, naturally delicate, was bronzed by the sun; his feet and hands were small, the latter remarkably delicate comide ring the labor they had accomplished. His clothing was always good and eminently practical; he preferred shirts with soft collars and dispensed with a cravat on working days, but was punctillious in dressing properly when the occasion required. In speech he was quick, and decisive in discussing matters of business; but he was, so far as the world was concerned, inarticulate as to his dreams and ideals. In general, he was regarded as a man of few words. He was serious but had a sense of humor; though he rarely smiled he did not look gloomy or forbidding.
HIS HOME He never married. His mother lived with him until her death in 1872. After that a housekeeper managed his home. He built his house on Castle Heights in 1873. It was of red brick and was large and handsome. The interior had an old fashioned dignity and spaciousness that was impressive. The hall was wide and the stairway handsome. The furniture was solid and fitting. There were steel engravings on the wall; there was also quite an extensive cabinet for natural history specimens. The book-cases were filled with books of solid worth; there were some on history and some of travel and some that had to do with his views of philosophy and religion . There was a certain air of austerity about the home that was quite in keeping with the master whose tastes were simple. The grounds around the hou se were spacious and planted with choice trees and shrubs. 1t was altogether a fine old residence and its owner loved it and gave it thoughtful care.
HIS RELIGION He was an independent thinker and very early broke awny from creeds that to him seemed to make the Creator narrow, jealous, revengeful and personally vindictive. Itwasaftcrthedeathofhismotherthat,inhisloneliness,hesought comfort in Spiritualism, a sect concerning which most people are profoundly ignorant. The fact that the human desire to communicate with the loved ones who have died has rendered believers easy victimsofcharletans has brough tupon the sect much obloquy and done it injustice. At its beginning, Spiritualism held tenets that stood for what is best in Christian living, charity, human helpfulness, ethical conduct, reverence for God and faith in Christ's teachings. The belief which has brought upon spiritualists so much ridicule was founded upon Christ's appearance to his Disciples after His death, the appearance of Samuel to Saul, and that of many departed saints at Jerusalem immediately following the cruci­fixion.
William Smith suffered a certain ostracism because of his religion; but he disregarded it as the result of narrowness and blindness, when at times it hurt him. However, he was a militant defender of his faith and although occasionally he may have been the victim of the ignorant and the fraudulent, he was keen to detect trickery and vehement in repudiating it. He was truly religious. He loved his fellow men and dealt justly with them and he reverenced God and believed that we could only appreciate His greatness by studying and understand­ing
His handiwork as shown in the natural world. In a letter to Miss Miller written in 1903 he said, "I have gotten to be more of a Christian, or think more of Jesus' teachings about life these last years than I used todo." Were he alive today he would find abundant companionship among the modernists of our orthodox churches, barring perhaps the belief in the communication with the spirits of the dead, although more people believe this today than arc willing to confess it.
H IS ATT ITUDE TOWARD WOMEN
He loved two women, the sweetheart of his youth who died and to whose memory he remained loyal during his entire life; and his mother to whom he was most devoted and whose companionship meant all that was sweet and good in his daily life until he was fifty-four years old. He was also a kind and affectionate brother but his heart's deepest experiences were given to his mother and his sweetheart. Because of these he idealized the sex; he believed women should have every opportunity for the development of their minds, bodies and souls. He looked upon women as the mothers of the race, and that as such, they should realize their fullest possibilities, He stood firmly for the enfranchisement of women and gave the use of the Opera House for lectures on this subject The women of his acquaintance whom he knew and honored were those who had high standards of life like Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter Anne, He felt that wom an should not be restricted in any field of usefulness and he gloried in
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her accomplishments if they were worthy, no matter what line of labor she had found best suited to her efforts. There never lived a man more broad minded and high minded in his regard for women than William Smith.
THE FOUNDING OF WILLI AM SMITH COLLEGE Those who came in contact with Mr. Smith in his daily walk and saw his life so devoid of luxuries, little th ought that he was dreaming of saving money to help the world, Naturally his high ideal of woman led him to think of her education and he determined to found a college for girls. The idea of "doing something for women" as he expressed it had been in his mind and he had dis­cussed
it with Mr. Lewis Chase, a friend of many years standing, fully thirty years before he finally took steps to build and equip a college. He loved his home and he wished the college to be ncar it. He announced his plan on July 28, 1903; the building which should cost one hundred thou sand dollars or more,was to be erected in the park to the west and north of his residence, and which he had been beautifying for years with Rowers, shrubs and trees, and the foundations were constructed that summer. He needed a head for the institution at once, so as to prepare for the opening in the autumn of 1904. Dr. E. D. Babbitt was the first man considered but the arrangement with him fell through and a Mr. Benjamin F. Austin was the next selection. Mr. Austin spent part of the winter as a guest of Mr. Smith and the latter became convinced that he was not the man for the head of his college. He had also come to realize that to build and equip a woman's college would require more than the half million dollars he had to give. He was puzzled as to how he should accomplish his desires; he was eighty-five years old and feared he might not live to see his purpose carried out; he therefore in 1904 chose a boardof trustees consisting of R.G.Chase, Lewis Chase, Henry B. Graves. Dr. Nathaniel Schmidt, Felix Adler. Miss Anne F. Miller, Theodore J. Smith, and the writer, and he made a will bequeathing his property to these trustees should he die before personally carrying out the purpose dear to his heart. For the Board of Trustees there followed two anxi ous years. Mr. Smith wished to have the college in Geneva and did not wish it to be a vocational school and it must be for girls and not for boys; these were perplexing limitations. Luckily for us all, Hobart had in President Langdon C. Stewardson a man of broad vision ,tact, and charming personality; through his diplomatic negotiations the problem was solved to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. OnDecember 11, 1906, the arrangement was made with the Board of Trustees of Hobart College and on December 13, two days later, the funds amounting to $471,500 were transferred and William Smith College was founded. The following year the Smith Hall of Science was built and Blackwell House fitted for a dormitory and on September 19, 1908, William Smith College was opened with appropriate exercises. There were twenty-two freshmen. 5 OUR FOUNDER'S IDEALS OF EDUCATION
It is strange that a practical businessman who had no connection with schools should have formulated within his own mind such advanced ideas of woman's education as did our Founder. He stipulated that biology and psychology should be in the curriculum of his college. He believed that through the study of biology the facts of physical existence and the development of life on the globe, could be mastered and understood. Armed with this knowledge women would be fitted to cope with the problems of physical life, He believed that through the study of psychology the my steries of the mind would be made plain, It seems that he foresaw how modern psychology is being made to do "a full measure of work in the attempt to render human life happier and more efficient," and how that through the study of child psychology, the mother may learn wisdom in dealing with her family. However, he dreamed for psychology, another field scarcely, as yet, touched by the scientific psychologists, and that the investigation of psychic phenomena,
Mr. Smith believed also in training woman's mind through the studies of the usual college curriculum if it should prove true training, He did not believe in " hoarding learning"but put great stress upon a mind fitted tosolve successfully the problems of life. His own words were-"It is not what one is, but what one is and does that counts." He believed in physical training so that the body should become strong and enduring to be a fit residence for a mind that should be active and a spirit th at should be undismayed,
He was glad to have a course in Domestic Science in his college, He believed that it would fit woman to be more efficient and more adequate in the home. Since he believed that, first of all. a woman should be fitted for motherhood and for presiding in a home, he would have had her so well educated for this that she would be equal to any other duties she might be called upon to perform, either for the public or for the state.
He did not wish his college to be denominational in its religious teachings, He wished the students to develop spiritual strength and underst anding so that each might be free and able to accept the creed that seemed to her true and right, He once said-"One of the greatest blessings granted us by God is the right of each one of us to seek and find Him in our own way," He believed that enthroned reason should take the place of superstition and that ethical convictions should displace cowardly fears and that a Christ-like desire to benefit the world be the motive leading upward rather than the selfish desire for personal salvation. As expressed in the offer of his property by his trustees to the trustees of Hobart College, he wished students to be taught the science of religion by which they learn in an unprejudiced way the history of various religions and their effect upon the moral life of indi viduals and nations.
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His ideal of an educated woman was that she should experience the fullness of life. All of her development, mental, moral, spiritual and physical,should lead to an overflowing vitality,-"abundant life" his favorite words. Her own happiness and powers of achievement and human helpfulness should all be within herself if she possessed "abundant life." By her own largess she could vivify all that came within her environment. He often quoted the words of Jesus "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." The prospectus of his college originally ended with the words "I have founded this college for women that in the words of the great Nazarene they migh thave life and have it more abundantly." Could any scheme for education have a greater or finer aim than this of our honoredFounder? FINAL DAYS
He lived to see his college carry on its work successfully and was deeply gratified with the numbers that came to study. He was particularly pleased that families in Geneva sent their daughters there: and many Geneva girls who could not otherwise have had the advantages of a college education, have gradu­ated
with high scholastic honors.
On October 14, 1909, Mr. Smith laid the corner stone for Miller House. He was then ninety-one years old. He went to Rochester that morning to attend to business, came home and had a hasty lunch and then he himself drove over to the college and laid the cornerstone; after the exercises were finished he hastened away to attend to some pressing business. This is an instance showing his remark­able
vitality and his mental alertness at such an advanced age. He was happy to name the building after Elizabeth Smith Miller for whom he had profound respect. She had dwelt many years in Geneva and exemplilied in her daily life his ideal; for she had lived strongly with the world, lovingly and helpfully with her neighbors and had presided with grace and wisdom over a beautiful home; her breadth of thought was only equalled by her breadth of sympathy. He felt that her name would rest like a benediction on this home for his college students. He stood in line with the rest of us at the reception at the opening of Miller House and was very harpy to be there although with his usual mode sly he shrank from praise.
In a letter to the writer he stares with satisfaction concerning the work done in his college.-"I am very glad to hear the girls are getting along so well. Some of the professors say they are doing better in their studies than the young men."
William Smith died in his home on February 6, 1912, at the age of ninety-three years and five months, He had requested that there be no eulogy at his funeral services President Stewardson read the Episcopal burial service and two hymns were sung by the students of William Smith College. The factories of Geneva closed for that afternoon and relatives, old friends and business associates came
in large numbers to the funeral. The faculty of Hobart and of William Smith Colleges, and the staff of the New York Experiment Station were present to give honor to the man who wrought honorably and saved diligently that he might help his beloved city and the world,
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM SMITH
My first acquaintance with William Smith was made in 1903 when my dear friend Anne Fitzhugh Miller invited me to her home, Lochland, to confer with Mr. Smith conce rning the establishment of a college for women. I believe that Felix Adler was visiting the Millers at that time and joined in the conference. Mr. Smith asked me then if I would cooperate with Mrs. Miller and her dau ghter and some others in helping him with his project, which of course I was very glad to do. I attended several meetings with these counsellors. I vividly remem­ber
the one held December 4th, 1903, when we met Mr. Austin whom Mr.Smith had invited to be the head of his college. Mr. Austin had been in his earlier years a Methodist minister and had had charge of a female seminary in Canada. He was no longer a Methodist nor could I discover in him any genuine signs of being a Spiritualist. I was very unfavorably impressed by him as were the others, It remained later for Mr. Smith to discover his unfitness through his own observations, after which he paid the man a round sum to pacify him and sent him on his way. Mr. Smith was thoroughly disillusioned concerning him and undoubtedly found it a relief to come in contact with a man like President Stewardson, cultured, tactful, reliable and sympathetic.
When the plan had finally been formulated there was a meeting of Mr. Smith's counsellors including Anne Fitzhugh Miller, Nathaniel Schmidt, and Dr.Stewardson and, I think, Dr.Turk, Mr. Smith proposed to leave It to me to decide whether the new college should be co-educational or co-ordinate and Dr. Stewardson acquiesced. I had always been a firm believer in co-education from the kindergarten through the university but I did not hesitate a moment to decide that a college for women at Hobart should be co-ordinate. I felt that to make Hobart co-educational would alienate the alumni and antagonize the undergraduates and, like putting new wine in old bottles, would ruin everything. I know that both Mr. Smith and President Stewardson were glad of this decision.
Mr. Smith's modesty was one of his chief characteristics. He enjoyed ap­preciation
but could not endure fulsome praise, He objected to being for even a moment in the lime light, It required earnest persuasion to convince him that he should lay the cornerstone to Miller House. "Let someone else do it" he insisted.
After the college was opened, some syndicate in Washington was getting out a series of photographs of people in America who were giving money for the
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founding of institutions and one of the men interested interviewed Mr. Smith. proposing that his photograph be included and that he help defray the expense of the enterprise to the extent of two hundred and fifty dollars. I think President Stewardson encouraged it as a good bit of advertising. A letter from our founder to me contains the following-" I find these portraits are to go to Europe and will be scattered over the world; now if I have done any good acts for humanity it is no more than the people are entitled to and to pay $250 for this does not look very generous. I am very dissatisfied with myself in this matter." I do not remember the outcome, but I tried to console him by telling him it would help the college.
I often visited him in his home where he lived with his elderly housekeeper who was quite lame and not too cheerful in the performance of her duties. It was always a wonder to me that he kept himself looking so well as to clothing when he really had no interested horne care in this respect.
During the period of founding William Smith ColIege he often visited us in Ithaca. He was keen to find what Cornell was doing in the matter of education. He was thcn about eighty -five but his endurance was a marvel to us. When he came for the day my husband and I took turns in entertaining him in two hour shifts,and resting between. At the end of the day we would be quite exhausted and he as fresh and interested as when he came in the morning. Although it was strenuous work, we both enjoyed it greatly and esteemed it a privilege to show th e university to one who was so appreciative and who discerned so clearly the practical value of each department.
After our return from a winter in Egypt he came to sec us solely for the
purpose of hearing about our experiences. It was on Sunday and we took him
to Mr.Comstock's lecture room and showed him our colored lantern slides and
shall never forget his enjoyment and interesting comments.
During these visits we talked about education. He was quite unused to
expressing his ideas and I discovered them by talking about other peoples ideas
and eliminating as he disapproved. I was never under the illusion that I was
guiding his ideas for he was quite emphatic in refusal to accept some of my pet
theories, "No, that wouldn't work!" "Well there may be something in that."
"Yes, that's right" etc., were his prompt comments. I learned to have great
respect for his opinions and I enjoyed my long conversations with him, He knew
that I understood his views and when it came to the preparation for the exercises
connected with thelaying of the cornerstone of Miller House he wrote asking me
to"Do my part for me. I know you will tell better than I can, the valueof this
building. the value of rest and work for the building up of Life-because th at is
what everybody needs, not money; the money for needs will come if we get the
Life." After the exercises he said , "Well you said it better than I could and you
said what was true," which was most gratifying to me,
9 As an instance of his modesty I urged him to have a portrait painted for the college but he responded, "Oh no, that would be a foolish use of money, I will give the college my photograph and that will be enough," I pursuaded him to come to Ithaca for his photograph since at that time we had with us Mr. Robinson, a very noted photographer, and who entered into the matter most unselfishly and took many more negatives than he charged for in his bill. These negatives should be in safe keeping in William Smith College.
Mr. Smith's religious beliefs including that of the conveyance of messages from the next world interested me and I was not repelled by them. During my childhood I· had known people who held these beliefs and were the "salt of the earth" and honored by everybody. Through them I learned the tenets of the sect. Later I had intimate friends who were Spiritualists,one of them Professor Hiram Corson, the eminent English scholar at Cornell. I once took Mr. Smith to call upon Professor Corson and it was interesting to see how the two, one a man of books and the other of business, understood each other Professor Corson said afterwards that anyone of discernment would know that William Smith was a very superior man.
Mr. Smith asked me what I thought of communications from the other world and was entirely satisfied when I anwered that to believe one must have had experience and I had never been so privileged. He often spoke of the comfort which messages from his mother and father had brought him. He gave me a subscription to a Spiritualist Journal published in Chicago. I think what in­terested
me most in it was the standing offer of reward for the discovery of fake mediums and the consequent revelations concerning them. Mr. Smith was very severe towards such; he feIt that they were a disgrace to humanity.
A few weeks before his death, at his request, I visited him. It was a very
sweet and comforting experience. However, during our talk I was startled and
rather shocked to have him ask me if I believed in personal, individual im­mortality.
I answered "Certainly, why do you ask it?" and he said slowly,
"Well, I don't know! As I am drawing near the end I am not so sure as I have
been; but I know that whatever happens will be good. The Creator of all things
knows what is best," And he rested in this fundamental faith as must we all
Both Mr. Comstock and I learned to love William Smith and reverence his
ideals. We felt ourselves enriched by his friendship and confidence and I have
always been grateful that I was allowed to help him in his greatest and dearest
enterprise.
The following are quotations from some of his letters:
" I have been on the sick list for two weeks. I did not say any­thing
to you about it as I knew you would rather hear that I
was well than that I was sick ."
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I sent him some trifle for his birthday and he wrote: "Thanks for the beautiful birthday gift. I feel as if you were overdoing the act of giving. I do not think about these little things myself, it makes life more pleasant to have other people do
these little things for one."
"If a woman is the right kind of a wife and mother she cannot
help being a power in the community."
"Too bad we do not know how to grow life better than we do
so we could have more time for work and thinking."
"Happiness comes by doing, more than by knowing."
A VISIT TO THE HOME OF WILLIAM SMITH
As I now look back upon my college days from a distance of nearly a score of years, it seems to me that a unique experience indeed was mine, to be able to pay a visit to th e Founder of my Alma Mater. My diary states that on May 15th, 1909. and I remember that it was a cool, sunny spring day, the entire student body, some 15 or 18 girls accompanied by Mrs. Hussey, our house-mother Dr. Turk, our dean, and Dr. Eaton, our beloved Professor of Biology, the first of the new departments to be endowed by Mr.Smith,set out early in the afternoon for his Castle Street home.
When we reached the house we were greeted by his housekeeper, a very short, stout, little woman who seemed to possess quite a sense of humor and who liked to talk. though we had a little difficulty in understanding what she said. As we stood in the yard, Mr. Smith who had been expecting us, evidently saw us from a distance, or he migh t have heard us, though he was quite deaf. Soon his old horse and buggy came jogging right across the perfectly kept expanse of lawn to the spot where we stood. He came up to shake hands with all of us-a youthful. energetic man of ninety and a half years, quite tall and not much stooped, slender but not exactly frail, his only physical defect being deafness.
I do not recall that I ever saw him wear glasses. His lower eyelids drooped a bit, which gave him a rather sad expression; but his glance was direct, even keen; and at times his eyes twinkled, as when he remarked that if he had only thought of it, he would have had some ice-cream for us girls.
Mr. Smith devoted himself to Mrs. Hussey, Dean Turk and Professor Eaton showing them the grounds adorned with all sorts of choice trees and shrubs. while the housekeeper conducted us girls all through the large house, even visiting the cellar and attic. I recall that in the dim light of the latter place we spied a large. queer shaped metal object which our guide told us was the bathtub that had been Mr. Smith's mother's. Obviously,his filial devotion would not let him part with any thing that had belonged to her. In his parlor on the west side of the wide hall was an old-fashioned music-box. Its repertoire of quaint tunes quitedelighted us. In his study, I remember seeing the tables heaped with pamphlets and reports on Pomology, a subject which ever held his interest. A man who had once worked for William Smith told me that he had learned from Mr. Smith how to keep apples all winter. He said that Mr. Smith's mother always used the poorest apples first, as the finest would hold out the longest.
Mr. Smith's bedroom, a small upstairs room on the east of the house over­looking
his nursery grounds, engaged our special attent ion. It revealed the secret
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of his abundant life and energy at his great age of ninety years. Beside the simple, single. white iron bed was a lifting machine and above it on the wall a chart showing how may pounds a man should be able to lift at a given age and weight, His housekeeper told us that it was Mr. Smith's habit to take exercises with this lifting machine every day. Of course each of us girls had to tackle it while the rest looked on and made bright remarks about her prowess. The whole house as I remember it, gave me the impression of frugality, or rather a restrained comfort: the home of an ascetic, or a scholarly gentleman whose wants were
few, and whose tastes were simple-a home which truly expressed the person­ality
of its owner.
When we gathered in the study Mr. Smith told us that we might have some­thing
to take along with us by which to remember our visit. We held a lively
discussion as to what this gift should be. In groups we revisited some of the
rooms. Someone suggested the music-box, but Mrs. Hussey with her fine tact,
gave us the hint that finally decided us. We summoned courage and asked for a
large portrait of Mr. Smith himself. He said we might have it, and that he would
send it to Blackwell House, as it was too heavy for us to carry such a distance,
This picture, the only one, so far as I know,which theCollege possesses of the
Founder, now hangs in the hall of Miller House.
FRANCES EDDY Houston, Charter Class 1912
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WILLIAM SMITH
William Smith-OUR FOUNDER
By Anna Botsford Comstock William Smith was born near the ancient and beautiful town of Canterbury,K ent County, England ,September 2nd, 1818, He was the eldest son of Thomas Smith, a trader in wood and other commodities, who died while his children were young. In 1837 two of the younger brothers, Edward then fifteen, and Thomas seventeen, came to America and settled in Geneva, After working here six years and becoming established, Edward returned toEngland and brought back with him William and the mother and sister Mary, who died young. William was twenty-five when he reached America in 1843, He had had no schooling after his eighth year; the early death of his father had made it necessary for him to work and earn in order to help care for the family, His brothers had bought twenty-five acres of land in the outskirts of Geneva, where the present office of the Smith's Nurseries stands. and they were devoting it to market gardening, William Smith did not join his brothers in their enterprise but went to work for Isaac Hildreth who had asmall nursery about a half mile west of the present Experiment Station, Here he became deeply interested in the nursery business and had the vision to foresee its future possibilities. In 1846, two years before the Maxwel lBrothers started their nurseries, Mr.Smith induced his two brothers to join him in the growing of trees and plants. They started in a limited way on the land which they had used for market gardening. They were industrious, economical, persevering and they developed excellent judgment in the selection of fruit trees and ornamental shrubs adapted for various localities. They were noted for honest dealing and the business had a healthy growth,
In 1863 Edward Smith withdrew from the firm. The nursery business continued to prosper and in 1892 was incorporated under the name of W. &. T. SmithCompany. From the first the Smiths were wholesale and no tretail dealers in nursery stock, They gradually increased their holdings until at present there are more th an one thousand acres devoted to the business. Thomas died in 1896 and his son Theodore continued the business with his uncle until the death o fthe latter when he became head of the firm.
William Smith was deeply interested in Geneva and its development. He took an active part in many of the business corporations o fthe city. He was one of the organizers of the Standard Optical Company in 1883 and for years was the largest stock-holder. For thirty one-years he was director of the First National Bank of Geneva. The following tribute has been paid him by those who knew him well: "He was a persistent worker, a keen business man and a man of the highest order of integrity. He was generous, kind to everybody and progressive."
It was during the years 1893-94 that Mr. Smith built the Opera House. Before that time Geneva had had no adequate hall for music or drama. He did not expect to make money out of this enterprise: he believed that good plays and good music were of great benefit to the people and he was glad to assist in giving these privileges to the citizens of his city. At the time it was built, it was probably the most beautiful theater in America in a city of the size of Geneva. It was copied later in Ithaca and other towns The donor was especially anxious th at courses of lectures should be given in the Opera House.
Through his work with plants M r. Smith became interested in plant breeding
which led him to an interest in all the natural sciences. especially biology. Also
the mystery of the heavens had always appealed to his imagination. He believed
that the greatness of the Creator could never be realized without knowledge of
the Universe.
"Night is but His parable
Secretly where He would tell,
As to an intimate of His
The mystery of all that is."
He read books on astronomy and securing a small telescope from a professor at Hobart, he set it up near his home, and by himself sought to learn the lore of the stars. It so fascinated him that he felt he must know more and visited Dr William R. Brooks, who was working in the Red House Observatory at Phelps. The visit was repeated several times, and in consequence he decided to build an observatory and place Dr. Brooks in charge. As was usual with Mr. Smith, whatever he undertook he did well. The dome and the large equatorial telescope of lO-inch aperture were built by the makers of the great telescopes of the Lick and the Yerkes observatories. A photographic lens to match the telescope put this on a par with the most advanced observatories. Dr. Brooks' devoted and self­sacrificing
labors during the years from 1888 until his death, made this observatory known the world over. What a pity that it stands idle now when astronomy, that most ancient of sciences, has come to the fore as the most progressive! It is to be hoped that some friend of William Smith and of Hobart College will endow a chair for this great work. Mr. Smith appreciated that Dr. Brooks had, by his discovery of many comets, brought great honor to his observatory; but he himself was more interested in the vast scheme of the Universe and he would have rejoiced in the recent discoveries which reveal the infinity of star systems
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and the plan of their evolution. As with all of his public enterprises, Mr. Smith hoped that his observatory would be a source of enlightenment and interest to the people of Geneva. The services of Dr. Brooks were always at the disposal of the public and he often gave free lectures and thus cooperated with Mr. Smith in his efforts to lead the people to a comprehension of the greatness of the Universe.
HIS PERSONALITY
William Smith was tall and spare as to physique; if there was a slight stooping of his shoulders it only served to make him seem more alert and eager; he was very active and moved quickly. His features were rather delicate, his nose straight and well shaped, his eyes large, and when he was interested, very expressive; his lips were rather thin and sensitive; his hair was gray as was his full beard which was kept elosely trimmed; his complexion, naturally delicate, was bronzed by the sun; his feet and hands were small, the latter remarkably delicate comide ring the labor they had accomplished. His clothing was always good and eminently practical; he preferred shirts with soft collars and dispensed with a cravat on working days, but was punctillious in dressing properly when the occasion required. In speech he was quick, and decisive in discussing matters of business; but he was, so far as the world was concerned, inarticulate as to his dreams and ideals. In general, he was regarded as a man of few words. He was serious but had a sense of humor; though he rarely smiled he did not look gloomy or forbidding.
HIS HOME He never married. His mother lived with him until her death in 1872. After that a housekeeper managed his home. He built his house on Castle Heights in 1873. It was of red brick and was large and handsome. The interior had an old fashioned dignity and spaciousness that was impressive. The hall was wide and the stairway handsome. The furniture was solid and fitting. There were steel engravings on the wall; there was also quite an extensive cabinet for natural history specimens. The book-cases were filled with books of solid worth; there were some on history and some of travel and some that had to do with his views of philosophy and religion . There was a certain air of austerity about the home that was quite in keeping with the master whose tastes were simple. The grounds around the hou se were spacious and planted with choice trees and shrubs. 1t was altogether a fine old residence and its owner loved it and gave it thoughtful care.
HIS RELIGION He was an independent thinker and very early broke awny from creeds that to him seemed to make the Creator narrow, jealous, revengeful and personally vindictive. Itwasaftcrthedeathofhismotherthat,inhisloneliness,hesought comfort in Spiritualism, a sect concerning which most people are profoundly ignorant. The fact that the human desire to communicate with the loved ones who have died has rendered believers easy victimsofcharletans has brough tupon the sect much obloquy and done it injustice. At its beginning, Spiritualism held tenets that stood for what is best in Christian living, charity, human helpfulness, ethical conduct, reverence for God and faith in Christ's teachings. The belief which has brought upon spiritualists so much ridicule was founded upon Christ's appearance to his Disciples after His death, the appearance of Samuel to Saul, and that of many departed saints at Jerusalem immediately following the cruci­fixion.
William Smith suffered a certain ostracism because of his religion; but he disregarded it as the result of narrowness and blindness, when at times it hurt him. However, he was a militant defender of his faith and although occasionally he may have been the victim of the ignorant and the fraudulent, he was keen to detect trickery and vehement in repudiating it. He was truly religious. He loved his fellow men and dealt justly with them and he reverenced God and believed that we could only appreciate His greatness by studying and understand­ing
His handiwork as shown in the natural world. In a letter to Miss Miller written in 1903 he said, "I have gotten to be more of a Christian, or think more of Jesus' teachings about life these last years than I used todo." Were he alive today he would find abundant companionship among the modernists of our orthodox churches, barring perhaps the belief in the communication with the spirits of the dead, although more people believe this today than arc willing to confess it.
H IS ATT ITUDE TOWARD WOMEN
He loved two women, the sweetheart of his youth who died and to whose memory he remained loyal during his entire life; and his mother to whom he was most devoted and whose companionship meant all that was sweet and good in his daily life until he was fifty-four years old. He was also a kind and affectionate brother but his heart's deepest experiences were given to his mother and his sweetheart. Because of these he idealized the sex; he believed women should have every opportunity for the development of their minds, bodies and souls. He looked upon women as the mothers of the race, and that as such, they should realize their fullest possibilities, He stood firmly for the enfranchisement of women and gave the use of the Opera House for lectures on this subject The women of his acquaintance whom he knew and honored were those who had high standards of life like Elizabeth Smith Miller and her daughter Anne, He felt that wom an should not be restricted in any field of usefulness and he gloried in
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her accomplishments if they were worthy, no matter what line of labor she had found best suited to her efforts. There never lived a man more broad minded and high minded in his regard for women than William Smith.
THE FOUNDING OF WILLI AM SMITH COLLEGE Those who came in contact with Mr. Smith in his daily walk and saw his life so devoid of luxuries, little th ought that he was dreaming of saving money to help the world, Naturally his high ideal of woman led him to think of her education and he determined to found a college for girls. The idea of "doing something for women" as he expressed it had been in his mind and he had dis­cussed
it with Mr. Lewis Chase, a friend of many years standing, fully thirty years before he finally took steps to build and equip a college. He loved his home and he wished the college to be ncar it. He announced his plan on July 28, 1903; the building which should cost one hundred thou sand dollars or more,was to be erected in the park to the west and north of his residence, and which he had been beautifying for years with Rowers, shrubs and trees, and the foundations were constructed that summer. He needed a head for the institution at once, so as to prepare for the opening in the autumn of 1904. Dr. E. D. Babbitt was the first man considered but the arrangement with him fell through and a Mr. Benjamin F. Austin was the next selection. Mr. Austin spent part of the winter as a guest of Mr. Smith and the latter became convinced that he was not the man for the head of his college. He had also come to realize that to build and equip a woman's college would require more than the half million dollars he had to give. He was puzzled as to how he should accomplish his desires; he was eighty-five years old and feared he might not live to see his purpose carried out; he therefore in 1904 chose a boardof trustees consisting of R.G.Chase, Lewis Chase, Henry B. Graves. Dr. Nathaniel Schmidt, Felix Adler. Miss Anne F. Miller, Theodore J. Smith, and the writer, and he made a will bequeathing his property to these trustees should he die before personally carrying out the purpose dear to his heart. For the Board of Trustees there followed two anxi ous years. Mr. Smith wished to have the college in Geneva and did not wish it to be a vocational school and it must be for girls and not for boys; these were perplexing limitations. Luckily for us all, Hobart had in President Langdon C. Stewardson a man of broad vision ,tact, and charming personality; through his diplomatic negotiations the problem was solved to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. OnDecember 11, 1906, the arrangement was made with the Board of Trustees of Hobart College and on December 13, two days later, the funds amounting to $471,500 were transferred and William Smith College was founded. The following year the Smith Hall of Science was built and Blackwell House fitted for a dormitory and on September 19, 1908, William Smith College was opened with appropriate exercises. There were twenty-two freshmen. 5 OUR FOUNDER'S IDEALS OF EDUCATION
It is strange that a practical businessman who had no connection with schools should have formulated within his own mind such advanced ideas of woman's education as did our Founder. He stipulated that biology and psychology should be in the curriculum of his college. He believed that through the study of biology the facts of physical existence and the development of life on the globe, could be mastered and understood. Armed with this knowledge women would be fitted to cope with the problems of physical life, He believed that through the study of psychology the my steries of the mind would be made plain, It seems that he foresaw how modern psychology is being made to do "a full measure of work in the attempt to render human life happier and more efficient," and how that through the study of child psychology, the mother may learn wisdom in dealing with her family. However, he dreamed for psychology, another field scarcely, as yet, touched by the scientific psychologists, and that the investigation of psychic phenomena,
Mr. Smith believed also in training woman's mind through the studies of the usual college curriculum if it should prove true training, He did not believe in " hoarding learning"but put great stress upon a mind fitted tosolve successfully the problems of life. His own words were-"It is not what one is, but what one is and does that counts." He believed in physical training so that the body should become strong and enduring to be a fit residence for a mind that should be active and a spirit th at should be undismayed,
He was glad to have a course in Domestic Science in his college, He believed that it would fit woman to be more efficient and more adequate in the home. Since he believed that, first of all. a woman should be fitted for motherhood and for presiding in a home, he would have had her so well educated for this that she would be equal to any other duties she might be called upon to perform, either for the public or for the state.
He did not wish his college to be denominational in its religious teachings, He wished the students to develop spiritual strength and underst anding so that each might be free and able to accept the creed that seemed to her true and right, He once said-"One of the greatest blessings granted us by God is the right of each one of us to seek and find Him in our own way," He believed that enthroned reason should take the place of superstition and that ethical convictions should displace cowardly fears and that a Christ-like desire to benefit the world be the motive leading upward rather than the selfish desire for personal salvation. As expressed in the offer of his property by his trustees to the trustees of Hobart College, he wished students to be taught the science of religion by which they learn in an unprejudiced way the history of various religions and their effect upon the moral life of indi viduals and nations.
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His ideal of an educated woman was that she should experience the fullness of life. All of her development, mental, moral, spiritual and physical,should lead to an overflowing vitality,-"abundant life" his favorite words. Her own happiness and powers of achievement and human helpfulness should all be within herself if she possessed "abundant life." By her own largess she could vivify all that came within her environment. He often quoted the words of Jesus "I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly." The prospectus of his college originally ended with the words "I have founded this college for women that in the words of the great Nazarene they migh thave life and have it more abundantly." Could any scheme for education have a greater or finer aim than this of our honoredFounder? FINAL DAYS
He lived to see his college carry on its work successfully and was deeply gratified with the numbers that came to study. He was particularly pleased that families in Geneva sent their daughters there: and many Geneva girls who could not otherwise have had the advantages of a college education, have gradu­ated
with high scholastic honors.
On October 14, 1909, Mr. Smith laid the corner stone for Miller House. He was then ninety-one years old. He went to Rochester that morning to attend to business, came home and had a hasty lunch and then he himself drove over to the college and laid the cornerstone; after the exercises were finished he hastened away to attend to some pressing business. This is an instance showing his remark­able
vitality and his mental alertness at such an advanced age. He was happy to name the building after Elizabeth Smith Miller for whom he had profound respect. She had dwelt many years in Geneva and exemplilied in her daily life his ideal; for she had lived strongly with the world, lovingly and helpfully with her neighbors and had presided with grace and wisdom over a beautiful home; her breadth of thought was only equalled by her breadth of sympathy. He felt that her name would rest like a benediction on this home for his college students. He stood in line with the rest of us at the reception at the opening of Miller House and was very harpy to be there although with his usual mode sly he shrank from praise.
In a letter to the writer he stares with satisfaction concerning the work done in his college.-"I am very glad to hear the girls are getting along so well. Some of the professors say they are doing better in their studies than the young men."
William Smith died in his home on February 6, 1912, at the age of ninety-three years and five months, He had requested that there be no eulogy at his funeral services President Stewardson read the Episcopal burial service and two hymns were sung by the students of William Smith College. The factories of Geneva closed for that afternoon and relatives, old friends and business associates came
in large numbers to the funeral. The faculty of Hobart and of William Smith Colleges, and the staff of the New York Experiment Station were present to give honor to the man who wrought honorably and saved diligently that he might help his beloved city and the world,
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM SMITH
My first acquaintance with William Smith was made in 1903 when my dear friend Anne Fitzhugh Miller invited me to her home, Lochland, to confer with Mr. Smith conce rning the establishment of a college for women. I believe that Felix Adler was visiting the Millers at that time and joined in the conference. Mr. Smith asked me then if I would cooperate with Mrs. Miller and her dau ghter and some others in helping him with his project, which of course I was very glad to do. I attended several meetings with these counsellors. I vividly remem­ber
the one held December 4th, 1903, when we met Mr. Austin whom Mr.Smith had invited to be the head of his college. Mr. Austin had been in his earlier years a Methodist minister and had had charge of a female seminary in Canada. He was no longer a Methodist nor could I discover in him any genuine signs of being a Spiritualist. I was very unfavorably impressed by him as were the others, It remained later for Mr. Smith to discover his unfitness through his own observations, after which he paid the man a round sum to pacify him and sent him on his way. Mr. Smith was thoroughly disillusioned concerning him and undoubtedly found it a relief to come in contact with a man like President Stewardson, cultured, tactful, reliable and sympathetic.
When the plan had finally been formulated there was a meeting of Mr. Smith's counsellors including Anne Fitzhugh Miller, Nathaniel Schmidt, and Dr.Stewardson and, I think, Dr.Turk, Mr. Smith proposed to leave It to me to decide whether the new college should be co-educational or co-ordinate and Dr. Stewardson acquiesced. I had always been a firm believer in co-education from the kindergarten through the university but I did not hesitate a moment to decide that a college for women at Hobart should be co-ordinate. I felt that to make Hobart co-educational would alienate the alumni and antagonize the undergraduates and, like putting new wine in old bottles, would ruin everything. I know that both Mr. Smith and President Stewardson were glad of this decision.
Mr. Smith's modesty was one of his chief characteristics. He enjoyed ap­preciation
but could not endure fulsome praise, He objected to being for even a moment in the lime light, It required earnest persuasion to convince him that he should lay the cornerstone to Miller House. "Let someone else do it" he insisted.
After the college was opened, some syndicate in Washington was getting out a series of photographs of people in America who were giving money for the
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founding of institutions and one of the men interested interviewed Mr. Smith. proposing that his photograph be included and that he help defray the expense of the enterprise to the extent of two hundred and fifty dollars. I think President Stewardson encouraged it as a good bit of advertising. A letter from our founder to me contains the following-" I find these portraits are to go to Europe and will be scattered over the world; now if I have done any good acts for humanity it is no more than the people are entitled to and to pay $250 for this does not look very generous. I am very dissatisfied with myself in this matter." I do not remember the outcome, but I tried to console him by telling him it would help the college.
I often visited him in his home where he lived with his elderly housekeeper who was quite lame and not too cheerful in the performance of her duties. It was always a wonder to me that he kept himself looking so well as to clothing when he really had no interested horne care in this respect.
During the period of founding William Smith ColIege he often visited us in Ithaca. He was keen to find what Cornell was doing in the matter of education. He was thcn about eighty -five but his endurance was a marvel to us. When he came for the day my husband and I took turns in entertaining him in two hour shifts,and resting between. At the end of the day we would be quite exhausted and he as fresh and interested as when he came in the morning. Although it was strenuous work, we both enjoyed it greatly and esteemed it a privilege to show th e university to one who was so appreciative and who discerned so clearly the practical value of each department.
After our return from a winter in Egypt he came to sec us solely for the
purpose of hearing about our experiences. It was on Sunday and we took him
to Mr.Comstock's lecture room and showed him our colored lantern slides and
shall never forget his enjoyment and interesting comments.
During these visits we talked about education. He was quite unused to
expressing his ideas and I discovered them by talking about other peoples ideas
and eliminating as he disapproved. I was never under the illusion that I was
guiding his ideas for he was quite emphatic in refusal to accept some of my pet
theories, "No, that wouldn't work!" "Well there may be something in that."
"Yes, that's right" etc., were his prompt comments. I learned to have great
respect for his opinions and I enjoyed my long conversations with him, He knew
that I understood his views and when it came to the preparation for the exercises
connected with thelaying of the cornerstone of Miller House he wrote asking me
to"Do my part for me. I know you will tell better than I can, the valueof this
building. the value of rest and work for the building up of Life-because th at is
what everybody needs, not money; the money for needs will come if we get the
Life." After the exercises he said , "Well you said it better than I could and you
said what was true," which was most gratifying to me,
9 As an instance of his modesty I urged him to have a portrait painted for the college but he responded, "Oh no, that would be a foolish use of money, I will give the college my photograph and that will be enough," I pursuaded him to come to Ithaca for his photograph since at that time we had with us Mr. Robinson, a very noted photographer, and who entered into the matter most unselfishly and took many more negatives than he charged for in his bill. These negatives should be in safe keeping in William Smith College.
Mr. Smith's religious beliefs including that of the conveyance of messages from the next world interested me and I was not repelled by them. During my childhood I· had known people who held these beliefs and were the "salt of the earth" and honored by everybody. Through them I learned the tenets of the sect. Later I had intimate friends who were Spiritualists,one of them Professor Hiram Corson, the eminent English scholar at Cornell. I once took Mr. Smith to call upon Professor Corson and it was interesting to see how the two, one a man of books and the other of business, understood each other Professor Corson said afterwards that anyone of discernment would know that William Smith was a very superior man.
Mr. Smith asked me what I thought of communications from the other world and was entirely satisfied when I anwered that to believe one must have had experience and I had never been so privileged. He often spoke of the comfort which messages from his mother and father had brought him. He gave me a subscription to a Spiritualist Journal published in Chicago. I think what in­terested
me most in it was the standing offer of reward for the discovery of fake mediums and the consequent revelations concerning them. Mr. Smith was very severe towards such; he feIt that they were a disgrace to humanity.
A few weeks before his death, at his request, I visited him. It was a very
sweet and comforting experience. However, during our talk I was startled and
rather shocked to have him ask me if I believed in personal, individual im­mortality.
I answered "Certainly, why do you ask it?" and he said slowly,
"Well, I don't know! As I am drawing near the end I am not so sure as I have
been; but I know that whatever happens will be good. The Creator of all things
knows what is best," And he rested in this fundamental faith as must we all
Both Mr. Comstock and I learned to love William Smith and reverence his
ideals. We felt ourselves enriched by his friendship and confidence and I have
always been grateful that I was allowed to help him in his greatest and dearest
enterprise.
The following are quotations from some of his letters:
" I have been on the sick list for two weeks. I did not say any­thing
to you about it as I knew you would rather hear that I
was well than that I was sick ."
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I sent him some trifle for his birthday and he wrote: "Thanks for the beautiful birthday gift. I feel as if you were overdoing the act of giving. I do not think about these little things myself, it makes life more pleasant to have other people do
these little things for one."
"If a woman is the right kind of a wife and mother she cannot
help being a power in the community."
"Too bad we do not know how to grow life better than we do
so we could have more time for work and thinking."
"Happiness comes by doing, more than by knowing."
A VISIT TO THE HOME OF WILLIAM SMITH
As I now look back upon my college days from a distance of nearly a score of years, it seems to me that a unique experience indeed was mine, to be able to pay a visit to th e Founder of my Alma Mater. My diary states that on May 15th, 1909. and I remember that it was a cool, sunny spring day, the entire student body, some 15 or 18 girls accompanied by Mrs. Hussey, our house-mother Dr. Turk, our dean, and Dr. Eaton, our beloved Professor of Biology, the first of the new departments to be endowed by Mr.Smith,set out early in the afternoon for his Castle Street home.
When we reached the house we were greeted by his housekeeper, a very short, stout, little woman who seemed to possess quite a sense of humor and who liked to talk. though we had a little difficulty in understanding what she said. As we stood in the yard, Mr. Smith who had been expecting us, evidently saw us from a distance, or he migh t have heard us, though he was quite deaf. Soon his old horse and buggy came jogging right across the perfectly kept expanse of lawn to the spot where we stood. He came up to shake hands with all of us-a youthful. energetic man of ninety and a half years, quite tall and not much stooped, slender but not exactly frail, his only physical defect being deafness.
I do not recall that I ever saw him wear glasses. His lower eyelids drooped a bit, which gave him a rather sad expression; but his glance was direct, even keen; and at times his eyes twinkled, as when he remarked that if he had only thought of it, he would have had some ice-cream for us girls.
Mr. Smith devoted himself to Mrs. Hussey, Dean Turk and Professor Eaton showing them the grounds adorned with all sorts of choice trees and shrubs. while the housekeeper conducted us girls all through the large house, even visiting the cellar and attic. I recall that in the dim light of the latter place we spied a large. queer shaped metal object which our guide told us was the bathtub that had been Mr. Smith's mother's. Obviously,his filial devotion would not let him part with any thing that had belonged to her. In his parlor on the west side of the wide hall was an old-fashioned music-box. Its repertoire of quaint tunes quitedelighted us. In his study, I remember seeing the tables heaped with pamphlets and reports on Pomology, a subject which ever held his interest. A man who had once worked for William Smith told me that he had learned from Mr. Smith how to keep apples all winter. He said that Mr. Smith's mother always used the poorest apples first, as the finest would hold out the longest.
Mr. Smith's bedroom, a small upstairs room on the east of the house over­looking
his nursery grounds, engaged our special attent ion. It revealed the secret
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of his abundant life and energy at his great age of ninety years. Beside the simple, single. white iron bed was a lifting machine and above it on the wall a chart showing how may pounds a man should be able to lift at a given age and weight, His housekeeper told us that it was Mr. Smith's habit to take exercises with this lifting machine every day. Of course each of us girls had to tackle it while the rest looked on and made bright remarks about her prowess. The whole house as I remember it, gave me the impression of frugality, or rather a restrained comfort: the home of an ascetic, or a scholarly gentleman whose wants were
few, and whose tastes were simple-a home which truly expressed the person­ality
of its owner.
When we gathered in the study Mr. Smith told us that we might have some­thing
to take along with us by which to remember our visit. We held a lively
discussion as to what this gift should be. In groups we revisited some of the
rooms. Someone suggested the music-box, but Mrs. Hussey with her fine tact,
gave us the hint that finally decided us. We summoned courage and asked for a
large portrait of Mr. Smith himself. He said we might have it, and that he would
send it to Blackwell House, as it was too heavy for us to carry such a distance,
This picture, the only one, so far as I know,which theCollege possesses of the
Founder, now hangs in the hall of Miller House.
FRANCES EDDY Houston, Charter Class 1912
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